Effingham County commissioners advance solar and wind ordinances with higher per-megawatt application fee

Effingham County Board of Commissioners members voted to forward draft ordinances for solar and wind facilities to the full board after agreeing to amend the application permitting fee to $5,000 per megawatt.

The move directs the county to pursue uniform permitting language for wind and solar, aligns parts of the draft ordinance with a pending state senate amendment and leaves other technical items for later revision if state law changes. County staff said the drafts include concerns previously raised by a commissioner and noted the county would have time to amend local rules if the legislature acts.

Commissioner Josh, who led the discussion, said the draft packet “includes the concerns that Norbert brought forward” and noted that “Tonight is the final, I believe, the closure of the hearing in Coles County, of their wind application, and they will make a determination on that after this is closed.” That, he said, makes the county’s language and fee structure worth watching. County staff member Aaron said the draft could be modified to mirror legislation and still comply with current law: “If can easily be changed to match that current…